Vatican City: During the Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to reflect deeply on the gifts they have received from God and to use them to foster a more just and equitable world. Drawing from the Gospel parable of the unjust steward, the Holy Father reminded believers that material wealth and worldly possessions are temporary, and true richness lies in relationships both with God and with others.
Addressing the faithful at the noon Angelus, Pope Leo emphasized that life itself is a precious gift entrusted to every human being. The parable, he explained, illustrates that we are not masters of our lives or our goods, but caretakers of God’s gifts, which come with freedom, responsibility, and accountability. One day, each person will be called to give an account of how they have managed their lives, possessions, and the earth’s resources.
“The Gospel invites us to reflect on how we administer not only material goods, but the most precious good of all our very life,” the Pope said, highlighting the moral and spiritual responsibility inherent in stewardship.
Pope Leo recalled that the steward in the parable initially sought only personal profit. Only when confronted with accountability did he realize that worldly wealth is fleeting. By forgiving debts owed to him, he lost material gain but gained friends who would support him in the future.
“Jesus exhorts us to make friends through worldly wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome us into eternal homes,” the Pope reflected. This, he explained, is a lesson for all Christians: the use of resources must be oriented toward building bonds of solidarity and charity, rather than accumulating wealth for selfish ends.
Pope Leo underlined that if even the dishonest steward could create lasting relationships by thinking beyond his own interests, then Christians are called to do even more. He urged the faithful to employ their resources and lives to pursue the true wealth of friendship with God and neighbor, promoting justice, equity, and human dignity.
Concluding his reflection, the Pope posed a poignant question to the congregation: “Are we following the path of selfishness, or do we recognize everything as a gift from God to be used in service of others?” He encouraged prayer to the Virgin Mary, asking for her intercession to help all believers become faithful stewards, administering God’s gifts with responsibility, generosity, and fairness.
Pope Leo’s message was a clear reminder that spiritual wealth and ethical stewardship are inseparable from the life of a faithful Christian, urging believers to act with conscience and compassion in a world often driven by greed and self-interest.